BVI Government Enacted Virgin Islands Deposit Insurance Act

The BVI government has enacted the Virgin Islands Deposit Insurance Act 2016 (VIDIC Act), providing some level of protection to depositors of financial institutions in the jurisdiction. The legal act was passed on April 25 and gazetted on May 19. By words of the BVI Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr Orlando Smith, the VIDIC Act will strengthen economic stability of the BVI financial system, and will contribute to increased consumer confidence.

The deposit insurance system has the purpose to protect depositors who are not in a position to assess the risks of the institution in which they choose to put their deposits. It will also automatically protect depositors' insured funds against major financial losses, in case the financial institution fails. The VIDIC Act provides for the establishment of the Virgin Islands Deposit Insurance Corporation, which will provide insurance against loss of deposits.